RISCO (AP) - A southeastern Missouri son of a principal is being credited with helping safe a basketball referee who collapsed from a heart attack.
New Madrid County Sheriff Terry Stevens on Friday appointed fifth-grader C.J. Blankenship an honorary deputy for his role in saving Donnie Jenkins in January.
As principal at Risco schools, Brandon Blankenship has said Jenkins and his son were talking between games when Jenkins collapsed. C.J. scrambled for help, and soon others revived Jenkins with a portable defibrillator.
Blankenship was honored during an assembly in a Risco school.
Blankenship said he's "kind of surprised" by the attention, but he's thankful for the recognition.
Jenkins is appreciative of Blankenship and others hustled to resuscitate him.